Final answer:
Antioxidants work by 3) stabilizing free radicals. They do this by being oxidized themselves, which halts the destructive reaction cascades initiated by the free radicals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antioxidants work by 3) stabilizing free radicals. They do this by being oxidized themselves, which halts the destructive reaction cascades initiated by the free radicals.
For example, vitamins C and E are antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals by donating hydrogen atoms from their –OH groups, breaking the propagation chain reaction.
This results in the formation of more stable molecules and prevents further damage.